Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder A Inattention 1 Fails to pay close attention to details or making careless mistakes when doing schoolwork or other activities 2 Trouble keeping attention focused during play or tasks 3 Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly 4 Fails to follow through on instructions or finish tasks 5 Difficulty organizing tasks or activities 6 Avoids tasks that require a high amount of mental effort and organization e g school projects 7 Frequently loses items required to facilitate tasks or activities e g school supplies 8 Excessive distractibility 9 Forgetfulness B Hyperactivity Impulsivity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fidgets with hands or feet or squirming in seat Leaves seat often even when inappropriate Runs or climbs at inappropriate times Difficulty in quiet play Often on the go or acts as if driven by a motor Talks excessively Blurts out answers before questions have been completed Has difficulty awaiting turn Interrupts or intrudes on others butts into conversations games etc Diagnosis 6 or more symptoms of inattention or 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity Onset by age 7 Diagnosis requires either AD or HD or both Functional impairment socially academically occupationally romantically etc Prevalence 8 of school age population 4 of adult population Gender ratio 5 1 boys girls Causes Frontal cortex impulse control attentional focus logical sequencing Reward pleasure circuits Heritability 50 Dopamine function DRD2 DBH genes Omega 3 zinc deficiency Food additives Treatments Stimulants Ritalin Concerta methylphenidate Adderall Vyvanse Strattera Cognitive behavior therapy CBT behavior therapy BT Omega 3 Exercise Light therapy Restricted diet avoid processed foods eat whole foods Meditation Conduct Disorder Precursor to Anti social PD adult Aggressive bullies property crimes assaults lies drugs etc Poor long term outcomes Parents often violent and or neglectful Physical punishment childhood violence Treatment Parent Training Therapy Patterson Oppositional Defiant Disorder ODD Childhood Anxiety Disorders similar to adult Separation Anxiety Disorder School Phobia Overanxious Disorder GAD Childhood Depression It exists Freud said impossible Similar to adult version except somatization Childhood Bipolar ADHD Autism 3 Primary Features Low interest in social interaction Language impairment Repetitive behaviors Onset by age 2 1 2 Etiology mom emotional refrigerator Etiology neurological abnormalities a language areas left temporal cortex b mirror neurons c sensory gating basal ganglia thalamus d amygdale Reduced plasma omega 3s Treatment Intensive behavior therapy Ivar Lovaas habituate child to social stimuli gradually shape with reinforcement language like behaviors Asperger s Syndrome less severe version of autism